Millions of people world-wide have taken part in protests against a war with Iraq. Hundreds of marches and rallies took place in up to 60 countries. BBC News Online provides special reports on the protests against war

A global march for peace

A protestors placard

Millions of people worldwide have taken part in demonstrations against a possible US-led war against Iraq. The first protests on Saturday were seen in New Zealand. In London, a rally was held in Hyde Park.

Organisers claimed up to two million people took part in the anti-war demonstrations in London. Participants arrived in the capital from about 250 cities across the UK. In Glasgow an estimated 30,000 people took part in the city's protest.

People came to London from all parts of the UK to attend the anti-war rally, many waking at the crack of dawn to begin their journey. The BBC spent the day with one family from Southampton who gave up their usual weekend to attend their first demonstration.

Former US presidential candidate Reverend Jesse Jackson was the keynote speaker at the march. Mr Jackson said: "It is not too late to stop this war, we must march until there is peace and reconciliation."

Tony Benn praised the crowd for starting a new political movement, which would endure beyond the Iraqi crisis. Mr Benn said this movement was also about global democracy and establishing a Palestinian state.

Human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger accused the Prime Minister of having forgone his beliefs held for so many years, and asked him: "Why listen to President Bush rather than the voices of
British people?"

"I have never seen anything like this in my political career," Ken Livingstone said. "This is Britain standing together regardless of age, race or sex. This war is solely about oil. Bush has never given a damn about human rights" he added.

To the delight of the crowds, pop star Ms Dynamite took to the stage and read out a poem which was heavily critical of Tony Blair. "We are standing, speaking out, fighting, but our Prime Minister is going against our wishes."

Writer and broadcaster Tariq Ali was among a number of speakers who used his speech to attack Tony Blair and his government's policies. Mr Ali said Britain was a country where regime change was also needed.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy told the protesters that "no just or moral case" had been made for war on Iraq and warned "this is the riskiest moment for Britain since the Suez." He added that Britain should pursue international justice through the UN.